Evening council meetings start in August

The public hearings, citizen comment periods and agenda-item debates of Lubbock’s City Council are moving to the evening starting in August.

The council voted unanimously to approve Mayor Glen Robertson’s proposal to shift meetings from 7:30 a.m. to after 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of each month in a move the newly elected mayor said would promote government transparency and increase public attendance.

Only two people showed up just after sunrise for Thursday morning’s public comment portion. Both urged council members to move meeting times to hours more accommodating to working citizens.

Clyde James recalled having to take off from work to speak at past city council meetings.

“It’s always an issue for the working people, the non-retired people,” James said.

He said accessibility should be a primary objective in scheduling meetings.

“This is a public service to serve on the council,” he said.

Robertson’s original proposal planned on closed executive sessions starting at 3:30 p.m., with the public comment portion beginning at 6 p.m.

Councilman Todd Klein added a “friendly amendment,” asking the public comment period begin at 6:15 p.m. or later to allow ample time for citizens to arrive after long days at the office.

Both Robertson’s request and Klein’s amendment passed 7-0.

The council in March passed a resolution holding the council to host a public meeting after 5:30 p.m. at least once every three months. The first full quarter since the March resolution passed ends June 30.

The council has not met for an evening meeting since.

To meet that legal obligation, Robertson said he plans to call a special council meeting the evening of June 29 for the council to canvass results of Saturday’s District 4 City Council runoff between incumbent Councilman Paul Beane and challenger Jim Gerlt.